Two save woman in Boynton bridge leap

March 14, 2008|By Jerome Burdi Staff Writer

Two furniture movers saved the life of a woman who tried to kill herself by jumping off a Boynton Beach bridge, police said on Thursday.

About 3 p.m. Tuesday at 2401 Quantum Blvd., Alexander Vickers, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, was passing by in a Rooms-to-Go truck and saw the woman sitting on the bridge's railing, police and Vickers said. Vickers and co-worker Michael Robinson, 24, were delivering furniture from the Pompano Beach clearance center to Boynton Beach, they said.

At first they thought she was fishing. When Vickers saw a rope around her neck, he yelled to her not to jump. He then called police.

Seconds later, Robinson, of Margate, saw the woman jump into the water. He grabbed a razor blade and ran toward the railing and cut the rope, police said. He then jumped into the water and pulled the woman to shore, police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said.

Police Chief Matthew Immler will honor Vickers and Robinson during a ceremony May 14.

"The Boynton Beach Police Department commends them for heroism and thanks them for their lifesaving efforts," Slater said.

The 48-year-old woman was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition, Slater said. She was not identified.

Jerome Burdi can be reached at jjburdi@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6531.